Employer Registration
- LocationGolden Beach, FL, USA
- SalaryDepends on Experience
- Vessel LengthNot Entered
- Vessel FlagUnited States of America
Yacht Jobs in Florida
Searching for a yacht captain or stewardess role in Florida? Meridian makes it easy to access verified yacht jobs across various ranks and departments.
From seasonal charter runs to permanent billets on long-range vessels, Florida sees consistent crew movement throughout the year. Moreover, key marinas keep vessels close, and recruiters, including private yacht owners, actively use our platform to source qualified candidates.
Meridian is the yachting industry's leading digital job board with 45,000+ active crew, hundreds of agencies, and a platform designed to get you hired without the red tape. Join the platform today and start getting the latest job alerts that match your requirements.
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Steward(ess)
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Full-Time
VIEW
- LocationGolden Beach, FL, USA
- SalaryDepends on Experience
- Vessel LengthNot Entered
- Vessel FlagUnited States of America
Deck/Steward(ess)
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Freelance
VIEW
- LocationFort Lauderdale, FL, USA
- SalaryDepends on Experience
- Vessel Length80' to 110' (25 to 33 meters)
- Vessel FlagUnited States of America
Chef
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Freelance
VIEW
- LocationFort Lauderdale, FL, USA
- SalaryDepends on Experience
- Vessel Length80' to 110' (25 to 33 meters)
- Vessel FlagUnited States of America
Mate/Engineer
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Full-Time
VIEW
- LocationNorth Bay Village, FL, USA
- SalaryDepends on Experience
- Vessel Length0' to 79' (0 to 24 meters)
- Vessel FlagVirgin Islands, British
Chief Steward(ess)
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Full-Time
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- LocationFort Lauderdale, FL, USA
- SalaryDepends on Experience
- Vessel Length111' to 144' (34 to 44 meters)
- Vessel FlagUnited States of America
Steward(ess)
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Full-Time
VIEW
- LocationFt Lauderdale, FL, USA
- SalaryDepends on Experience
- Vessel Length80' to 110' (25 to 33 meters)
- Vessel FlagUnited States of America
Chef
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Freelance
VIEW
- LocationFort Lauderdale, FL, USA
- SalaryDepends on Experience
- Vessel Length111' to 144' (34 to 44 meters)
- Vessel FlagUnited States of America
Deck/Steward(ess)
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Temporary
VIEW
- LocationFort Lauderdale, FL, USA
- SalaryDepends on Experience
- Vessel Length80' to 110' (25 to 33 meters)
- Vessel FlagBahamas
Mate
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Full-Time
VIEW
- LocationFort Lauderdale, FL, USA
- SalaryDepends on Experience
- Vessel Length80' to 110' (25 to 33 meters)
- Vessel FlagBahamas
Why Work in Florida?
For crew looking to build their experience without relocating to somewhere far, Florida offers a solid and often overlooked alternative. Vessel traffic through the state supports a steady job market across deck, interior, and engineering roles.
- The marinas here serve yachts ranging from 24 meters to well over 100 meters. This means that there won't be any shortage of opportunities. Also, the range of work will vary, spanning everything from day work on smaller boats to permanent contracts on major vessels.
- Florida is a very walkable city, which means you can hit every important marina within days.
- For engineers and technical crew, especially, Florida offers regular employment linked to maintenance cycles, which run year-round regardless of the charter season.
- If you like sailing over motor, Florida is one of the world's most popular destinations for high-performance racing and classic sailing yachts.
Yacht Job Salaries in Florida
Yacht crew salaries in Florida are highly dependent on the size of the vessel, role, and the purpose of the yacht. On a quick analysis of the industry trends from 2024 to 2026, there's a steady 8-10% hike in salaries due to the increasing demand for specialized skills.
National Average:
| Yacht Crew Average Annual Salary Chart (USD) | |||
| Position | Small Yacht (<100ft) | Mid-Size Yacht (100–160ft) | Superyacht (160ft+) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Captain | $85,000 – $130,000 | $135,000 – $210,000 | $220,000 – $440,000+ |
| Chief Engineer | $75,000 – $100,000 | $110,000 – $150,000 | $160,000 – $200,000+ |
| Chef (Head/Sole) | $65,000 – $85,000 | $90,000 – $120,000 | $130,000 – $160,000+ |
| Chief Stewardess | $60,000 – $75,000 | $80,000 – $105,000 | $110,000 – $140,000 |
| First Officer/Mate | $60,000 – $80,000 | $85,000 – $110,000 | $115,000 – $145,000 |
| Bosun/Lead Deck | $50,000 – $60,000 | $65,000 – $75,000 | $80,000 – $95,000 |
| Stewardess (Junior) | $38,000 – $48,000 | $45,000 – $55,000 | $55,000 – $70,000 |
| Deckhand (Junior) | $36,000 – $45,000 | $42,000 – $52,000 | $55,000 – $68,000 |
Seasonal vs. Permanent Roles
- Temporary crew or freelancers get a higher daily rate (daywork) in return for the lack of long-term security. Meanwhile, permanent roles make a steady monthly income with regular raises, often at a rate of 5 to 10%.
- Temporary crew members also often earn through tips. Charter vessels provide higher tips. On average, each crew member can make from $1000 to #3000+ in tips above their base salary. Whereas permanent positions can earn you additional benefits in the form of health insurance, annual flight allowances to home port, and paid leave, etc.
- If you're looking forward to building your CV or those who want to travel without a yearly commitment, working as a yacht crew in {state} is a great way to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
Finding a yacht job in Florida requires a strong presence both online and offline. Start by registering yourself with recruitment agencies or, even better, platforms like Meridian. Here, you can browse all active openings in Florida, filter by role and vessel type, and apply directly. Build networks through dock walking. Walk to the docks (where permitted) and ask captains for day work. Even though yachting recruitment has moved mainly to the online sphere, showing up physically is still the best way if you are new to the industry.
The busiest yachting cities in Florida are usually coastal or waterfront locations with significant infrastructure for large vessels. To get job alerts from specific cities Florida, try searching on Meridian filtered by location. Besides, a general search on Meridian will show you exactly where demand is highest right now.
The baseline for almost any crewed yacht position is STCW Basic Safety Training. Beyond that, experience and role-specific certifications matter. Chef, engineer, and officer roles where technical skill is non-negotiable are some examples.
Yes, seasonal recruitment can lead to permanent employment. Many crew members begin with a season-long contract, showcasing their worth, and then receive an offer to work full-time. To find those seasonal positions as they become available, use Meridian's job alerts.
While Meridian is witnessing salaries as high as $70,000, they can go as low as approximately to $20,000. Please remember that multiple factors, such as the size of the vessel, your experience and skill level, and the position you're looking forward to working in, can heavily impact the salary.
The most reliable hiring in Florida is driven by busy boatyards and marinas exclusive for private and non-industrial yachts. You are in the right place at the right time if you know which facilities handle the biggest vessels and when they are busiest.
In Florida, the primary way that you can find and apply for yacht jobs is through job boards. Create a free account online on Meridian, a yacht recruitment platform with hundreds of job listings from Florida. Upload your CV and other essential documents, and start applying directly to open positions. Our One Click Apply feature makes it fast, so you can apply to multiple roles in minutes.
Why Use Meridian for Your Yacht Career?
Meridian has helped thousands of yacht owners, management companies, and recruiters find exceptional captains and crew for amazing yacht vacancies since Crew4Yachts was founded in 2006, continuing after its acquisition in 2020.
Beyond this, here are other reasons why you should use Meridian to jump-start your yacht career:
- Fast hiring cycle: It takes less than 2 minutes to upload your CV so that hiring yacht owners, captains, and recruiters can search our platform to find, contact, shortlist, and hire you.
- Trusted by captains and recruiters globally: We have been in the game since 2006, constantly connecting owners and recruiters with competent captains.
- Easy-to-use yacht crew database: Our platform is user-friendly, making it the best choice for owners, captains, and recruiters.
- Meridian grows with you: Today, you may be looking for work; tomorrow, you may be looking for crew. Within your account, you can easily switch from crew to employer.
Posting job vacancies or searching our platform for experienced crew takes just a few minutes.
How Our Platform Works
Join for free in under two minutes. Instantly get discovered by hundreds of employers hiring yacht crew, receive job alerts tailored to you, and apply for opportunities around the world.
1Join for Free
Upload your CV to create your account. If you'd like, you can also add qualifications and references.
2Be Found
Employers can find and contact you directly using keyword search, just like Google.
3One Click Apply
Apply through our job alert emails or directly from our website.
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